Suspected Islamic State operative remanded to NIA custody till 19 Feb

New Delhi: A suspected Islamic State operative arrested for allegedly conspiring to carry out terror strikes in India was on Thursday remanded to NIA custody till 19 February by a Delhi court.

Azhar Iqbal, who was arrested from Madhya Pradesh by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), was produced before District Judge Amar Nath during in-camera proceedings and according to sources, NIA sought his custodial interrogation for 15 days.

They said NIA told the court that Iqbal was required to be interrogated to ascertain the identities of his other associates and know about their funding pattern.

Delhi police. File photo. AFP

The sources also said NIA told the court that the accused was required to be taken to various places in the country for the purpose of
investigation.

Iqbal, a resident of Barkheda Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, was arrested by the NIA as part of the agency's crackdown on sympathisers of the Islamic State.

On 25 January, 12 ISIS suspects arrested from across the country were sent to 13 days in NIA custody after the court was informed that they were allegedly planning to carry out attacks ahead of the Republic Day.

These arrested accused were allegedly in regular touch with active members of IS in Syria through internet chat via social networking applications, sources said.

Earlier, two suspected terrorists -- Abu Anas and Nafees Khan, both aged 24 years -- were remanded to NIA custody for 13 days on the allegations that they had Islamic State links. They were arrested under several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.